Pro-drop Languages
You don't need context to determine who the subject is in English.
"I hate you" can refer to several people who are hated by me or just one person, hence the context is required.
No. It refers to one person. If you wanted to refer to multiple people, you would say "I hate y'all." in the South, or "I hate youse." in New York, or "I hate you lot." or something in Britain, etc.
<<No. It refers to one person. If you wanted to refer to multiple people, you would say "I hate y'all." in the South, or "I hate youse." in New York, or "I hate you lot." or something in Britain, etc.>>
No you're wrong. YOU can perfectly well refer to many people, in fact that is how refined people talk. You wont find any refined, cultured people committing linguistic fallacies by saying things such as 'youse'. I am shocked at such utter ignorance of proper, noble English.
"Refined" people as you call them speak with ambiguous grammar. They are idiots!
Ambiguity is sophisticated. Explicity is vulgar.
PARISIEN Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:07 pm GMT
I'd like to make my question once again:
Besides Germanic languages and French, which other languages are NON pro-drop?
Any hint is welcome. I really want to know.
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good question - are French and Germanic languages (German, English Swedish, Netherlands etc.) the only languages systematically using pronouns?